ianstone
10-10-2010, 06:43 AM
Comments (60) (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1319113/Violence-flares-rival-protesters-gather-Leicester-demonstrate.html#comments)
An officer was hurt today during violent clashes as two rival protest groups gathered in a city for demonstrations.
Missiles were hurled at police as chaos erupted while the English Defence Defence League (EDL) and Unite Against Fascism (UAF) held separate protests in Leicester, prompting the city's largest policing operation in 25 years.
Police said about 1,000 EDL supporters had turned up and approximately 700 UAF demonstrators.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/09/article-0-0B8BA19C000005DC-811_634x436.jpg Missile: An injured police officer is carried away after clashes with demonstrators. Police later said he had been treated and was due to be discharged soon
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/09/article-0-0B8B6715000005DC-231_634x430.jpg Mobbed: Officers attempt to hold back EDL supporters. Earlier this week, Home Secretary Theresa May authorised a blanket ban on marches in Leicester, but the groups were still permitted to hold static demonstrations from 2pm to 3.30pm
At one point a policeman was put into a buggy-style ambulance on a stretcher and some EDL protesters were also treated by police medics, although it is unclear what their injuries were.
Shortly after 2.30pm police said the situation among EDL supporters on Humberstone Gate East had 'quietened'.
A spokeswoman said: 'Crowds remain and continue to protest. Four people have been arrested. One officer has been taken to hospital with a leg injury.'
Police said the injured officer had been treated and was due to be discharged soon.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/09/article-1319113-0B8B996A000005DC-538_634x412.jpg Violence: A member of the extreme right-wing English Defence League (EDL) is restrained during clashes with police officers during the protest
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/09/article-1319113-0B8C04C2000005DC-120_634x505.jpg Riot: The EDL supporters ran away from the pre-arranged protest site to a nearby main road where they confronted gangs of local youths and sporadic fighting broke out
Violent clashes broke out away from the demonstration, between EDL supporters and members of the local black and Asian community.
The EDL supporters ran away from the pre-arranged protest site to a nearby main road where they confronted gangs of local youths and sporadic fighting broke out between the two sides while riot police sought to maintain control.
Police confirmed there was a disturbance on Kent Street but it had been dispersed.
There was a short stand-off between police and EDL protesters who refused to get on to awaiting coaches, but no violence and supporters eventually began to board them to leave the city.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/09/article-1319113-0B8B953D000005DC-69_306x482.jpg Wound: A man is injured during a English Defence League (EDL) demonstration in Leicester today
Earlier in the day a smoke bomb was thrown from the EDL protesters into police and crowds of press.
Leicestershire Police said: 'Officers [were] dealing with minor disorder among the EDL supporters on Humberstone Gate East.
'So far a number of protesters have been detained for possible public order offences.
'The disturbance is within the EDL supporter group, not directed at the counter protesters.'
Earlier this week, Home Secretary Theresa May authorised a blanket ban on marches in Leicester, but the groups were still permitted to hold static demonstrations in Humberstone Gate East in the city from 2pm to 3.30pm.
The area was shut down by police today, with rival groups placed either side of metal barriers.
Yesterday, police said they had worked hard to make sure the demonstrations did not result in violence - as previous protests and counter-protests by the groups have in other cities.
But as EDL supporters gathered today, missiles were thrown at police officers who held the crowd back.
Officers wearing riot gear and dog handlers worked to keep the crowd under control as bricks and coins were thrown at police.
At least 1,400 officers were drafted in from 12 other forces.
EDL supporters arrived from across the country in coaches throughout the morning.
They were permitted to gather ahead of the protests in Hotel Street, Leicester, with police monitoring the groups in four different pubs.
With many wearing EDL branded hoodies and carrying banners, they met in and around the pubs, monitored by officers and police evidence gatherers.
Some chanted 'EDL, EDL' while others carried banners reading slogans including 'Sharia laws will destroy Britain and all our British values'.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/09/article-1319113-0B8B9D95000005DC-701_634x386.jpg Calm before the storm: EDL protesters in the city. At least 1,400 officers were drafted in from 12 other forces to deal with the demonstration
Before the protests started, police said one person was arrested for drugs offences and another three people were also arrested.
A window was also smashed at a pub in Hotel Street.
Just before the protest, protesters were bussed to the site from Hotel Street.
Much of the city centre appeared quiet and some shops were boarded up near to the protest site.
Police were using Section 14 of the Public Order Act which meant officers could take action against anyone who protests outside that place and time.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/09/article-1319113-0B8B9C20000005DC-638_634x380.jpg Lock down: Officers wearing riot gear and dog handlers worked to keep the crowd under control as bricks and coins were thrown at police
They were also using stop and search powers, and were supported by the dog unit, mounted unit and East Midlands Air Support Unit.
A window was also smashed at a pub in Hotel Street.
Much of the city centre appeared quiet and some shops were boarded up near to the protest site.
Police were using Section 14 of the Public Order Act which meant officers could take action against anyone who protests outside that place and time.
They were also using stop and search powers, and were supported by the dog unit, mounted unit and East Midlands Air Support Unit.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1319113/Violence-flares-rival-protesters-gather-Leicester-demonstrate.html#ixzz11x1x89EC
An officer was hurt today during violent clashes as two rival protest groups gathered in a city for demonstrations.
Missiles were hurled at police as chaos erupted while the English Defence Defence League (EDL) and Unite Against Fascism (UAF) held separate protests in Leicester, prompting the city's largest policing operation in 25 years.
Police said about 1,000 EDL supporters had turned up and approximately 700 UAF demonstrators.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/09/article-0-0B8BA19C000005DC-811_634x436.jpg Missile: An injured police officer is carried away after clashes with demonstrators. Police later said he had been treated and was due to be discharged soon
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/09/article-0-0B8B6715000005DC-231_634x430.jpg Mobbed: Officers attempt to hold back EDL supporters. Earlier this week, Home Secretary Theresa May authorised a blanket ban on marches in Leicester, but the groups were still permitted to hold static demonstrations from 2pm to 3.30pm
At one point a policeman was put into a buggy-style ambulance on a stretcher and some EDL protesters were also treated by police medics, although it is unclear what their injuries were.
Shortly after 2.30pm police said the situation among EDL supporters on Humberstone Gate East had 'quietened'.
A spokeswoman said: 'Crowds remain and continue to protest. Four people have been arrested. One officer has been taken to hospital with a leg injury.'
Police said the injured officer had been treated and was due to be discharged soon.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/09/article-1319113-0B8B996A000005DC-538_634x412.jpg Violence: A member of the extreme right-wing English Defence League (EDL) is restrained during clashes with police officers during the protest
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/09/article-1319113-0B8C04C2000005DC-120_634x505.jpg Riot: The EDL supporters ran away from the pre-arranged protest site to a nearby main road where they confronted gangs of local youths and sporadic fighting broke out
Violent clashes broke out away from the demonstration, between EDL supporters and members of the local black and Asian community.
The EDL supporters ran away from the pre-arranged protest site to a nearby main road where they confronted gangs of local youths and sporadic fighting broke out between the two sides while riot police sought to maintain control.
Police confirmed there was a disturbance on Kent Street but it had been dispersed.
There was a short stand-off between police and EDL protesters who refused to get on to awaiting coaches, but no violence and supporters eventually began to board them to leave the city.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/09/article-1319113-0B8B953D000005DC-69_306x482.jpg Wound: A man is injured during a English Defence League (EDL) demonstration in Leicester today
Earlier in the day a smoke bomb was thrown from the EDL protesters into police and crowds of press.
Leicestershire Police said: 'Officers [were] dealing with minor disorder among the EDL supporters on Humberstone Gate East.
'So far a number of protesters have been detained for possible public order offences.
'The disturbance is within the EDL supporter group, not directed at the counter protesters.'
Earlier this week, Home Secretary Theresa May authorised a blanket ban on marches in Leicester, but the groups were still permitted to hold static demonstrations in Humberstone Gate East in the city from 2pm to 3.30pm.
The area was shut down by police today, with rival groups placed either side of metal barriers.
Yesterday, police said they had worked hard to make sure the demonstrations did not result in violence - as previous protests and counter-protests by the groups have in other cities.
But as EDL supporters gathered today, missiles were thrown at police officers who held the crowd back.
Officers wearing riot gear and dog handlers worked to keep the crowd under control as bricks and coins were thrown at police.
At least 1,400 officers were drafted in from 12 other forces.
EDL supporters arrived from across the country in coaches throughout the morning.
They were permitted to gather ahead of the protests in Hotel Street, Leicester, with police monitoring the groups in four different pubs.
With many wearing EDL branded hoodies and carrying banners, they met in and around the pubs, monitored by officers and police evidence gatherers.
Some chanted 'EDL, EDL' while others carried banners reading slogans including 'Sharia laws will destroy Britain and all our British values'.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/09/article-1319113-0B8B9D95000005DC-701_634x386.jpg Calm before the storm: EDL protesters in the city. At least 1,400 officers were drafted in from 12 other forces to deal with the demonstration
Before the protests started, police said one person was arrested for drugs offences and another three people were also arrested.
A window was also smashed at a pub in Hotel Street.
Just before the protest, protesters were bussed to the site from Hotel Street.
Much of the city centre appeared quiet and some shops were boarded up near to the protest site.
Police were using Section 14 of the Public Order Act which meant officers could take action against anyone who protests outside that place and time.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/09/article-1319113-0B8B9C20000005DC-638_634x380.jpg Lock down: Officers wearing riot gear and dog handlers worked to keep the crowd under control as bricks and coins were thrown at police
They were also using stop and search powers, and were supported by the dog unit, mounted unit and East Midlands Air Support Unit.
A window was also smashed at a pub in Hotel Street.
Much of the city centre appeared quiet and some shops were boarded up near to the protest site.
Police were using Section 14 of the Public Order Act which meant officers could take action against anyone who protests outside that place and time.
They were also using stop and search powers, and were supported by the dog unit, mounted unit and East Midlands Air Support Unit.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1319113/Violence-flares-rival-protesters-gather-Leicester-demonstrate.html#ixzz11x1x89EC